Under-estimating the Fatigue factor

[FuseU1]

Right.

Also, if it's a rock, fusion, or top-40 gig,
just common sense here - have plenty of water on hand, esp on those warmer or hot outdoor gigs. I'd have a bottle w a re-closable/openable top, & a gallon or 2 of natural spring water handy.

I also keep non-greasy vitamin E & aloe lotion for the hands for those colder outdoor gigs, to keep them from cracking.

I also stretch [wrists, arms & body] both before & aft the gig, & warm up on the pad at least 15-20 min b4, sngl & dbl strokes, diddles, maybe alternating groups of even sngls in each hand [sngls, dbls, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s, 7s, 8s, a la Simon], using finger-rebound/Moeller/Grube/Weck.

The Weckl-Moehler-Gruber finger/stick-rebound technique is essential practice, to get the most out of your technq & stroke. It's important to never have to "fight your technq, or the set."

I try never to go into a gig "cold," that is, w/out having played for the days preceding [as in having taken a week or 2 off from playg the kit]. Sometimes there may be circumstances where this happens, but try not to make it a regular thing. [Not saying this is the case w your situation; just in general. [img]cool.gif[/img] ]

That fruit / food intake advice is good; however, do not eat too much or anything heavy [a heavy meal] within 1+1/2 to 2 hrs before the gig.

There've been good topics on this in here before...I realize i was poss branching out here, but I feel that all this helps reduce the fatigue factor. [img]cool.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ March 19, 2005 07:38 PM: Message edited by: fuseU1 ]</font>

[Rhythmatist]

fuse you crack me up LOL LOL!

pgroover I can relate. I did the same twice this week (with a Celtic/Rock thing during St. Paddy's week; "saints add preservatives to us"). It's a Freakin' loud band. I'm 50 and I decided a while back that you can only hit so hard. One of two things will happen; You'll break a bone or you'll break gear. I'm not going to do either for anyone. So I determined just where that line is and I WILL NOT CROSS IT. If the band is that loud that the drums are buried, so be it. Besides, there's a point where the sound will naturally distort (I think it's just the ear drums flapping)so I try to keep below that. After the first of my two-fers this week I did have some soreness in my left forearm, but thank Moeller I was able to get right back on it after one day's rest. By relaxing my hands and really using a good whip technique (I even lost a stick on a few occasions which is good 'cause it tells me I'm not gripping the stick) I've been able to withstand the long nights without any pain after that. I have another to look forward to tonight. [img]eek.gif[/img]

Yeah I guess if the money wasn't so good...I feel like such a cheap whore [img]redface.gif[/img]

In my other situation I never have to worry. Everything is mic'ed and the stage volume (usually) doesn't get out of hand so I'm able to play at a comfortable level. I can concentrate on playing music and not worry about whether I'm coming across or not.